Power washing machine



May 6, 1930. v. G. APPLE 1,757,106

POWER WASHING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1928 2 sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

May 6, 1930. v. 3. APPLE POWER WASHING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /l/ Fig 7 F fg /3 INV T03.

screw 111 enlargedatits lower end as at. 15 and carrying a rubber tip 16Y thereon.l Ak

Patent/ed May 6, 1930 1 f VINCENT G. Arena. or; BeYu-59N, Yomo fp LApplication filed,1 AJfilnefm,

tub containing the clothes and' water kis rocked a small part ofwa revolution alternate ly in two directions about an axis ofthe tub to agit-ate the contents thereof.,and one objectv of my invention is' toprovide a machine of this type wherein the tub issoinounted and the rocking mechanism so constructed as to Supply the most, least iar or noise; y o Y .Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art as the invention is described in detail, reference being had to the drawings wllelen--n 1L Y 1 Fig. 1 is a side view ofthe machine. i Figs. 2, 3, f1, 5 and 6 are cross. Sections taken thru Fig. 1 on lines2.-2, 3 3, j l`-J4r,.5-.5, and 6-6 respectively. Y l

.Fig. '17' is a'planview ofthe. machine.`

Fig. 8 is a -iront'view ofthe machine. Figs. 9 to 13incl'usive show by comparison sonrie ladvantages of my improved construction?. u. Y i

Similar. numerals refer t0 Similar 'parte thruout the several views. Y y

Referring to theydrawings a frame 10 is supported on castorslland 12. Castor 12 has extending downward thru its, stem 13 a hand wheel 17 is supplied at the upper end ofscrew 14. for adjustment thereof,"so that the castor Wheel lmay be lowered when the machine isto be moved about or raised when it iS 111i Operativa@ feature@ particular valuein machinesofthe oscillating type.

A tub gl9has fastened' to the; ends VthereofV spiders 20 vandi21Vwhich are secured toy the tubby. bolts andfnuts-v 237 more clearlyV lshown in Ywherea tapered head 42li of boit 2.2 draws a suitably formed Perf 0f the metal of tub -19 into the" tapered'pocket of eiicient agitation with the Y stationary at will.

and' leaving; the'4 tub free'Yfrom'bolt heads y projecting from the inside thereof but great? on the t'ubt'o rock itrapidly back and forth.l

Spiders 21 carry bearings and 2,6

jwhicli :aremounted free to rocken studs27' "and'28 supported in `i'rameflO. Mounted on frame and Vextending upwardly therefrom is'V acolunin' 29 adapted' Yto 'carry atv its upper. end aj `power unitandwringerwhich may swing labout said column Vin' a 'horizontal plane. The 'power uni-t `wringenforms Y no part of iny pr'sentfinvention and iSaccordingly not herein Shown.

Withincoluinn 29-and extending vertically from the power plant downward, is a shaft 30having heaiin'g in said column7 'said shaft at its lower end vbeing'bent to Vform a double crankhavinglcranlg pins 31 and 32 oppositely eccentric with s'aid4 shaft. Mounted vfree to rock on stud 2T is langedhub 33 having studs 34 `extendingtherefrom' in ,a direction toward the tub and studs 35`extendingtherefromv in a; direction away from the '.tub Partly. surrounding. studs, and crank pins 31 and '32.and `having bearingthereon are halt' boxes 38. Coil springs 39 under tension Y connectone stud A3 5 to crank pin 31and an'- other stud. `35, tor ycrank pin 32 Vby means-of hooks formediattheends ofthe springswhi'ch bear'in grooves inhalf boxes'38'. j 4( onst-ant rotation of shaft 30 in the same4 direction will thereforerock the hub 33 back und forth.y on the stud 27 sothat-'by connecting and disconnecting the tub 'from' hub 33 it may beflmade toY rock-or allowed to' remain iThe rocking mechanism usually applied to machinesfof this type comprises' asing-le crank and' a rigid connectingrod connecting the crank pin to point away from the'roclgingcenter' of jthe tub. Asthe; bearings 0f such a connecting 'rod usuallyy wear away very rapidlyv a pounding act-ion soonV results which isnotonly noisybu-t destructive, A

. shaft.

rocking mechanism built according to my in` kthat no lost motion or knock may occur, and

at the same time supply asmooth action to the tub because the variable resistance ofV the tub at different positionsofitsncycleis compensated for by the give and take action ofsaidsprings. A measure `of safety'i's' also provided for should the tubbe somehow inadvertently stopped while the power continued springs 39would simply extend and contract to allow a continued of .the crank lVhile'zl have shown. described connecting rods comprising extension springs resilient connecting rods'l comprising Y compression springs forcing half boxes apart, and

. whileas a drivingmeans forthesprings I show a shaft extending downward from the power soui-'ceVhaving a double crank at its lower end Ifinay enfnoloyl a similar shaft4 ex-. tending upward fi-oma power sourcefplaced under the machinewor-I may. employ aliorizontally disposedshaft, having"v a Vdouble crank 'thereon extending either crosswiise orV leifigth'-V wise with the inachineor a shaft lengthwise of the machinevhaving a crank and 'spring at each end of the tub,` andgwhile-Ifshow as atub control means a mechanism for discon- 'nectingthe springs from the ltulo'to stop'rock ing thereof, may employ a mechanism for disconnecting the power means from'th'e crank shaft to accomplish `thesame result,

itselfbronght to rest; y Y e "As a means of connecting andk disconnect and while I prefer that a power plant for separately or simultaneously driving a wringer and washer suchv as'I show in my'colpending application, Serial No, 285,369, be used.' my rocking mechanism maybe applied when sep'- arate powerunits are provided for V.the iwashg` er'v Vand rwringer, in which; case the powerV source need not vbe.disconnectedbutv may be ingptub 19,/fromhub inthe instant :caso I provide a control handle'40 rounded Yand 1having bearing in frame l0 Iat 41V and 42; An keccentrically'turned portion 43 has mounted thereon block 44 which isconlined between two flanges 4a-and. L46'.extending from rhub 33. By turningvhandle ',4Q/Ytheeccentric 43 thru block 44"act;ingiagainst anges45 and 46 vmoves hub 33 axially Y stud 2 7,- toward or away :from tub y 19.VV vWhenv hub 3 3'is moved Jtowardtub l9'st1ids` 'V34 Iaridr35 enter holes in spider 2O to rock the tub, and when hub 33 48 and 49 ofhandle 40 to maintain the handle in one orthepther.position thus to keep they tub securely connected oi entirely freed. As

a means of bringingandholding the tub in ,proper positionl with the opening at the top when disconnected. from the power, l Vmay employ a I coil YsprlngV similar to j Spring 39 connecting saine point on the tub to the frame,

"the points of'con'nection being selected to flaringthegopeningfto.the top'by the action of the spring in assuming its state of least exteiision.fAs this is common practice in machines o f kthistype it isnot herein shown or claimed-incombination with other features.

Another feasure of particularlvalue in my improvedconstruction resides in the, contour of the tub aiidtheposition of its rocking center, a" feature which l1 show comparison y s f A s inLFigsn'Q, 10,11, 12 and 13;, drawing halfpboxes toward each other', I con-VY n sider as withinjthe scope ofniy inventionV Fig. 9 shows anjendviewof a tub such as is so V,used'in commonv practice, ,being .of substan tially cylindrical formand havingthe. rocking point'f'O 'on the axis passingfthroug'h the centerof tlie-,cylinderjV A partitionl within the tub extending "upwardly frointhe bottom is the sole vmeans ofagitation for the contents thereoffas it is -rockevd'bac'k rand forth, yitrbeing obvious that were such partitionf removed the contents Vwould remain stationary regardlessn of the rockingV action of the tub asjsaid contents` would not lower its center "of gravityfbyshifting its position. Vlith thepartition as show'na certain amount of agitation may be had. i

F ig.;` 10 shows an end view. of a more approved form ofk tub used in common practice n being a hollow prism ofl'elliptical crossl section Vthe rocking center being at 52 on'A the center'of gravity as shown. Projections 53 adjacent tothe opening in the top ofthe tub are usually added to vkeep'the contentsv from splashing out when the tub is being rocked and' a plate 54 is sometimes.,provided.in the bottom of the tubagainst whichthe clothes areiubbedwhen passingbafck and forth. A

improved practiceibeinga hollow prisn'i of elliptical-.Across sectionfas inrFig. 10 but whichrhafstlie rocking center consider? ably belowfthe center of gravitycof the prism rated "plate uwhich assists the Washing action ley-'water being'forced yupwardly thru the perforatipn's against'thel clothes as they los ,c Y ,X as shown. -Theinside of the 4tub is preferably Y are passedV thereover or it may .be corrugated i` i and without perfor-ations and securely fixed y A iis i Y v11 shows a tub made according tomy assume-the positionof the broken line59 and in the'other direction to assuinethe position of the broken line 60. VVhen tub 57 isiex-l actly half filled withvvaterI the center'fof gravity ofthe body of water when rthextub is level is lat 61, when rocked to position 59 itis at 62 and when rocked to position 60 itis at 63. The tub 64 F ig. 13 is'rocked-onA the axis 65 in-one direction tofassulnethe position of the. broken line 66 andinltheother direction to assume .the position of the' broken line 67. When tub. 64 is exactly halffilled with Water the 'centerfof :gravity of the bodylof water when the tulo -is level'iis Vat 65, when rocked.to-position66 it is at 68 and `when rockedto position 67 'it is at 69.52 f 1 It is readily seen from Figs. 'l2 and' 13 that While the two tu-bslz andrlijare rocked thru the same angle thecenter of gravity-of the water in tub 64is not onlyraised andjlow ered to a greater e'iitent but it isals Vshifted to positions fartherremoved from each other at each cycle of'operation. vIn addition it may be seen thatinFig. `12gwhenthe water has for instance accumulated aboutgravity center.l 63- and the tubis suddenly rocked to position 59 the end VWally 70 .simply rises alf lowing the .water to. flow afwaylfrom it,'while' in F ig. 18 when the water has. accumulated about gravity center 69 andthe tub is suddenly rocked to position 66 the end wall 71 not only; rises but follows after the hodyof water giving it a push to assistthe forcefof gravity, and then provides al lower position 68 into which thewater may fall; It is therefore obvious thatthe water in a tuhpivoted 1 below center moves thru a greaterl, distance and with incre-force than in a tubbuilt according to common practice, Y `Vihen now a` tiib pivoted below center has an inner contour as shown in 11 a portion of the water within when being tossed rapidly back andforth follows to a greatextent the inner contour of the tub firstacross t-he' bottoni thereof then upwardv atone end and is there-k by; turned back, and Crossing near the center of thetuhagain landsat theb'ottom at the opposite end where it is again turned upward to repeat the cyclef This motion ofgthe water within the tub commonly lcalleflaifiglure 8. mot-ion greatly assists the washing action by throwing the water whichis tipturned at Vthe ends of the tub downward 'Qverthe clothes ina spray. v

ani aware that-'prior-ito my 4invention washlngv machines hav'efbeen made wherein thetub containing Athewaterzand clothes is moved in such a Inannerfthattheend wall of.

the tub follows afterthe water giving it a punch and thenin'tuign provides a position farther 'removed from its starting point wherein the water may, fall, and I' am also aware that machinesyhavebeen madewherein a portion of the water is inovedto agreater or lessextent thru a ligure 8 cycle, and Ifithere-v fore donot claim this eature broadly, as my invention doesnotconsist inthe-'discovery of this washing principle but. rather in .the

discovery thatthisA principle may be brought intol use withkgreater effect Eby, av properly shaped tulo-anda rocking Inechanisnij suitably constructed and arranged,l and While my invvention :preferably applies to tubs of oblong cross section it may belused to `advantage in" connectionivith tubsof round or other cross section.A Y f Y Y u i' Yllile I ;have hereinshown and described one embodiment@ my invention and called attention to some ofthe changes which I may make in the detailsthereof it is under:

stood thatmany other changes may be madev a as long' as theyxcoin'e within the scope of the following y part 'ofthe specification, wherein Il claim-# l v I i In' 'a power washer jof this osoil'latingr type, tub, oscillationl means comprising a revolvab'le'rshaft, qtwo' oppositely disposed crankpifns carried thereonrvand driven there-Y by; 'two jstuds associated with the tub positioned' oppositelyaway' from the center of' oscillation,` bearings carried on the stiids and thecrank pins, vand co'il'sprigngshaving at their ends hooks which; partly encircle-V the bearings to connect said crank pins toy said 'studswith said springs under resilient tensiornl e y 2, In a powerkwasher of the osciliating type, atub. oscillating means comprising a revolvable shaft,'power mean-s for driving said shaft, two, oppositely disposed crankv pins carrie-d on-said shaft 'and driven therebyftwo studs associated Vwith the tu-b positioned 'op-V positely away from` rthe center; of oscillation,

bearings carried onth-e studs andzcrank pins, coil springs having at their ends hooks which partly encircle the bearings `to'co'nnect saidV crank pins tofsaid studs with saidsprings un der resilient tension, andnieans to stop the tubfroin oscillation wit-hout,stopping` the lloe rocked DvSai-d kframe on bearings carried ,by spidersfastened to. the-'fonds'. Offsad tub with belts having tapered head'sga suitably shaped porti-on ofi the sheet metal 0f. the/1mb I being Vdrawn by 'saidtapered headsinteta# the oscillating roc pered pocketsin said spiders for reasons substantially as described.V .Y

by spiders fastened to the 'ends' of said tub, said ends` having greater width than height and said bearings being positioned considn stud bearings to the said crank pin bearings.

erablybelow the gravity center ofsaid ends and .said spiders being fastened to said kends by Vbolts having taperedheads by means of which a suitably shaped portion of the sheet metal of said-tub isdrawn into `suitably shaped pockets in said spiders. j

A 5. In a power'washer" of the oscillating type, a frame, asheet metal tubl adapted to be rocked in said frameon bearings4 carried by spiders fastened to the ends of'said tub, said ends beingv ofV oblong Vshape 'having positioned considerably 'below the gravity center of said ends, and said spidersbeing fastened to said ends by boltshaving tapered heads by means of which la suitably shaped portion if the ,sheet metal ofsaid tub is drawn into suitably shaped pocketsvin said spider anda tub oscillating means comprising arevolvable shaft, two oppositely disposed crank pins carried thereon and driven thereby and y resilient connecting, rods under stress-,joining the crank pinsy to points on thertub oppositely away from the center of oscillation.

6. In Va powerY washer of the oscillating,V

type, a tub oscillating means comprising a uni-directional continuously` revolving double-throw Vcrank 'shaft` and resilient means maintained under continuous stress between the crank pins and supports on theftub oppositelyaway from its `center of oscilla'-V tion. I

7. In a power 'washer of the oscillating type, a tub oscillating means comprising a two throw crc nk shaft adapted to vbe revolved continuously in one direction, a resilient member under stress connecting one crank pin yto a support onthe tub somewhat removed from its center of oscillation, and another resilient member under stress connecting the 'other crank pin toV a support on the tub sub-l stantially equally removed from its center of oscillation and' diametrically i opposite the first said support. Y

type, s tub oscillating mechanism comprising, a two-throw crank shaft adapted to be re- ,volved continuously in @one direction, a

stressed resilient member connecting `one crank pinto a supportvon the tub away from posel and balance each other.

ai frame, a sheet'metal tub adaptedto Y be rocked'in said frame on V*bearings carried f greaterV width'A than rheight and said bearings being y9. In a powervwasher of theoscillating f` type, tub oscillating mechanisml comprising, atwo-throw crankshaft adapted torb'e revolvedl g continuously Ain one direction, two studs-associated with the tub positioned oppositely away from the center of oscillation,

bearings on said studsandsaid crank pins and resilient .under stress connecting thesaid 10. In a power washer of the oscillating typetub oscillating mechanism comprising,

volved continuously in one direction, f two studs associatediwith the tuby positioned oppositely away from the center of oscillation, bearingson said studs and said crank pins and coil springs in resilient tension connecting thesaidcrank'pin. bearings to the said stu'd bearings. f A r 11. -In a power washer of the `oscillating type, tub oscillating mechanism comprising,

ka two-throw crank shaft adapted toV be rel a two-throwcrank shaft adapted to be kre-y j i volvedfcontinuously in one direction', an os# cillatory hub coaxial withthecenter of oscillation of the tub,two studs carried by said hub positioned oppositelyaway from the center of oscillation, bearing members on said eov studs,.bearingmembers on said'crank pins,

resilient means connecting the stud :bearing members tothe 'crank pin bearing members and means :to connect said hub and/saidtub for simultaneous oscillation; '.f

12; Inapower washer, a frame, a tub, a

spindle affixed in said frame, a bearing member surrounding said spindle fand .ailixed to the-jends of said tub, yan oscillatory hubV surrounding said spindle, studs in said hub opv positely away from'its center of oscillation,

a two-throw crank shaft adapted to be revolvedV continuously in one direction, resilient operating means from the crank pins to the studs to oscillate said hubv and means to con-V nect said'liub to said'bearing member to oscillatesaidtub.V ,V f' 13. Ina powerwashena frame, a tub, a spindle aiiXed in said frame,1a bearing member surrounding said spindleA and aiiiXedto the end' of lsaid tub, and axially'shiftable oscil` f 'A latory hub-surrounding saidspindle, bearhub oppositely'away from its center of oscillation, a two-throw crankshaft adapted'to be v Y v Y Y. 1 'revolved continuously in one direction, bear-y 1 c 8. In a power washer of the oscillating,

ings on the studs, bearings on the crank pins, resilient means connecting the crank pin bearing engaging'meanson saidhub, studs in'said V ings -to the stud bearings to oscillate said hub 'and meansto shiftl said-hub axially into engalgement with said bearing to oscillate'said 14. VInfa powerv washer, a frame, a sheet metal tub, aspmdle affixed in said frame, a bearing member surrounding said journaland secured to the'end o'f said tub` a hub adapted to lbeoscillatedand axially shifted on said spindle, bearing engaging means on'said hub,

so i

studs in said hub oppositely away from its center of oscillation, a two-throw Crank shaft adapted to be revolved continuously in one direction, bearing members on the studs, bear-` ing members on the crank pins, coil springs under tension joining the crank pin bearing members to the stud bearing members to oseil'- Vlate said hub, Vmeans to shift said hub axially into or out of engagement With said bearing memberl to oscillate or lstop said tub and means to maintain said hub in itsengaged or disengaged position.

In testimony whereof I4 hereunto set my VINCENT G. APPLE; r

hand. 

